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Many people are in jail on drug charges, not all of them guilty.
Here in AZ, the for-profit prisons not kept at 100% capacity (per contract) must be subsidized by the state to make up for each cell not filled. That means there is strong incentive to send the most minor of offenses to prison, and even those who may be innocent but opted out of a trial by peers.
The for-profit prisons are paid by the state, receive federal subsidies, tax breaks, and charge the inmates on a per day basis.
They form alliances with other corps who find other ways to make profit off the incarcerated and their families. Is it possible that there are kickbacks or other incentives for the for-profits? Why not?
Additionally, inmates are often sold as free labor to businesses in the areas.
The person leaving prison is laden with debt, has a criminal record which precludes them from supporting themselves in an extremely competitive job market, have burdened their families who have stuck with them through this, and have been separated from their family, included children, so must attempt to reestablish their relationships with them. There is no support, none.
It's no wonder that they so often end up back in prison on parole violations (some violations include not getting a job soon enough). And the profit keeps rolling in.
And all of this for possession of a joint, in some cases. Sometimes even less than that. Our young men (and women) are being tagged, forever in the system, forever stigmatized, enduring damage to their families and collectively to their communities, while rich white men steal, cheat, do Cocaine and get zero time when caught.
The system is rigged and is working only for the rich.